Court proceedings, police activity, probate, bankruptcy, sport – even garden parties. Old newspapers expose every aspect of life as it really was. Old newspapers are a real treasure trove. Revealing the real lives of our ancestors. From transported convicts, crime reports, births, deaths, obituaries and marriages. Sometimes newspaper reports are the only remaining record of an event.

Lichfield Mercury – Friday 13 December 1878

What can you expect to find in newspapers?

Crime reports

Obituaries

Birth, marriage, death and funeral notices

Announcements of life events

Social news

Activities of clubs and organisations

Legal notices, such as those from court cases

Police statements

Local events and coverage

Bankruptcies

Advertisements and business notices

Weather

Major local events, such as fires and floods

Shipping

If it happened it was in the news

Brighton Gazette – Thursday 09 June 1825

How old newspapers help you?

Life events data, such as birth, marriage and death notices are the basics for family history.

Local news can provide a lot of detail, especially about relationships and residence of various family members. This sometimes picks up lost links or branches of a family who stayed or moved. It may also account for a youngster who was born and died between census enumerations.

Many snippets of information are buried in the advertisements and legal notices.

Marriages, death notices and other short items

Notices of sale of land, bankruptcy, dissolutions of partnership which could give clues to a change of financial status.

Stamford Mercury – Friday 10 July 1863Old British News is a unique free to use newspaper research service. If you would like to donate towards the running costs please click ‘donate’ below.

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